"AN ACT to amend the executive law, the civil rights law and the education law, in relation to prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity or expression; and to amend the penal law and the criminal procedure law, in relation to including offenses regarding gender identity or expression within the list of offenses subject to treatment as hate crimes."The bill has passed the Assembly three times, would add “gender identity and expression” to those protected against employment, housing, education and credit discrimination.
GENDA has been stuck in an infuriating pattern in the NY Legislature the last few years. It passes the NY Assembly by overwhelming margins only to get killed when it gets to the NY Senate. For the third straight year, the NY Senate has trampled the hopes of the trans citizens of the state by killing GENDA in committee.
The bill died in the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning to the chagrin of openly gay state Sen. Tom Duane (D-Manhattan), who sponsoring the legislation in conjunction with Assemblyman Richard Gottfried (D-Manhattan).
All 11 Republicans on the Judiciary Committee voted down the bill, plus Democratic state Sen. Ruben Diaz Sr (D-Bronx)
Sen. Duane attributed the defeat partly to a difference of opinions on legislative strategy."it is now yet again confirmed that the Senate is a cesspool of homophobia and transphobia," said Duane. "The advocates wanted to go through a committee... I believe that we should have brought GENDA through Rules and brought it right to the floor so as to deny the right-wing fringe the ability to organize against GENDA with their lies and distortions."
According to NY Daily News State Capitol Bureau Chief Ken Lovett, Senate Democrats are "livid" over the bill's demise:
"Senate Dems say two Republicans on the committee, Sens. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) and George Maziarz (R-Niagara) had previously committed to supporting the measure, only to vote against it in committee.
"Whether it’s ethics reform or upholding basic human rights for all New Yorkers, Senate Republicans proved once again they lack the backbone to stand up for what they claim to believe in," said Senate Democratic spokesman Austin Shafran.
Shafran clarified his statement to say that Sens. Lanza and Maziarz had agreed only to move the bill out of committee without recommendation.
What is so onerous about GENDA that the Forces of Intolerance in the New York State Senate find objectionable?
Oops, silly me. Guess they want to keep their ability to oppress someone alive.Once again, the NY State Senate has sent a bitter message to trans New Yorkers. They don't mind sticking their hands in the wallets and purses of trans New Yorkers to grab state tax money from them when they can find work.
But they can't, won't and refuse to exert themselves with passing critical legislation recognizing trans New Yorkers fundamental human rights.
